Complete Fish Tales Playfield Resurrection - Gone Fishing, Leave a Message....

[myPinballs]

Another myPinballs project. This time the restoration and resurrection of a partially populated Fish Tales playfield that i picked up recently and the installation of it into my doctor who cabinet to play 2 games for the price of 1!

The main thing that drew me to this having collected and restored countless games over the years is the challenge to get it back to factory fresh condition and the fact the playfield in question looked to be in good shape with no wear in the usual places. Looked to have been 'parted out' awhile back before the surface had got really worn. Also as mentioned above the idea to plug it into an existing cabinet to change around the games available for me to play. As my games room is always full lugging games in and out to swap them about isn't the fun it once was

But first, inspection and assessment of what is missing. What needs sorting, etc.

Box arrives:





Initial inspection of the central playfield area around the tales told inserts.



More inspection pics to come later

 

[myPinballs]

Inspection pics

 

[myPinballs]

Strip down pics. Top and bottom

 

[myPinballs]

Playfield Cleaning and Polish

 

[myPinballs]

Starting to add some cleaned metal rails back using my supplies of new shiny hex screws. (available here - http://www.pinballinfo.com/community/threads/super-shiny-zinc-plated-hex-screws.34597/#post-180418) What a difference

 

[Big Phil]

Are you doing anything to the actual playfield itself? Or did it just need a rub down?

 

[cooldan]

jesus, that rust isn't good. does that crap come off?

 

[JT.]

That's a lot of rust! On the plus side, the playfield looks in better than average condition around the fish inserts. Looking forward to this shop log.

 

[Bandit Boy]

Cracking restoration job your taking on @myPinballs . .... Hat's off to you my friend, and the others on here who bring these beauties back to life.....
If I was in power they'd be a few OBE's handed out for services to "restoration & entertainment".. and a Knighthood for cleaning that up.. lol

BB

 

[newdos]

Think those rails may need a replating!!!!!

 

[replicas]

You forgot to say picture heavy.

 

[myPinballs]

You forgot to say picture heavy.

Thought I'd see if I could use up your broadband limit in 1 post

 

[DRD]

the shooter lane actually looks quite fresh, as though it is a low mileage game

 

[myPinballs]

The playfield itself is in very good condition without any wear really, so just needed a clean and polish. Looks like the game it came from broke down early on its life and the playfield was parted out, or possibly the game was just mothballed after the original 3 year run.

This is what the playfield was like on the underside before i did anything. No black dusty dirt near the flipper end at all. Reminds me what games were like years back when you bought them straight off their original sited run.

 

[myPinballs]

Playfield underside full stripped down

 

[myPinballs]

Found a few new parts in the spares stash for mechs that need replacing/ are missing

 

[myPinballs]

Some update pics. Lower playfield cleaned. Coils cleaned, Loom cleaned, Switches cleaned and switches re-installed. Lamp inserts cleaned



Trough mech reassembled




Sling shot arms reinstalled



Pop bumpers reassembled using all new sleeves, metal braces and plungers. Missing coil replaced

 

[myPinballs]

I will be doing a shot trough switch replacement to. I recommend doing this in any restoration as it will save you hassle later in life! These switches wear out and cause weird issue down the line. These are the switches i sell in my electronics spares list. http://www.pinballinfo.com/communit...pinballs-consolidated-and-updated-list.32898/

 

[Bandit Boy]

Top job, love restoration threads....

 

[Big Phil]

Love the passion in this!

 

[myPinballs]

Love the passion in this!

25 years of passion in pinball and counting. This type of thing is how i keep the pinball mojo going. Often doing different projects of things that require a little searching to sort out can keep the interest going. Worth thinking about if you find yourself lacking the mojo. I see posts about people loosing theirs ever so often.

 

[myPinballs]

2 More mechanisms sorted and reassembled

 

[myPinballs]

Some sourced parts for missing items arrived yesterday



The beginnings of sorting out the missing reel drive and control



Reel opto board cleaned and serviced. Good as new



2 More mechanism restored and reinstalled




This is how the underside is now looking

 

[myPinballs]

Some more pics of the latest progress. Got the support rails sorted out (thanks @replicas) playfield hooks, sling shots and all new flipper mechanisms all fitted.



Moved on to sorting out the lamp boards



Once these are back on i just need to fix the autolaunch mechanism and cabling then i can turn the playfield over and crack on with the upper side

 

[myPinballs]

Some updates on recent progress

All underside mechs complete and lamp boards going back on (reel opto mounting brackets and some reel parts still to sort out)



Autolaunch mechanism recreated and reinstalled from spares



Rear Backboard resprayed and rebuilt. Rear LIE plastic cleaned and polished. Coloured bulbs added in places.

 

[myPinballs]

Red Flasher Bulbs for Jackpots




Pop Bumpers completed

 

[myPinballs]

Top side Metal work going and posts back on

 

[myPinballs]

Time spent recreating the Tale Told lamp and flasher loom. Both bulb holders were corroded nastily and are visible on the upper playifeld so they had to go.

 

[Big Phil]

Outstanding work!

 

[myPinballs]

Next up, Couple of my favourite reassembly jobs - Installing New GI bulbs and fitting new star posts.

New GI bulbs installed.



Received an order of parts from @pinballmania along and with using my hoard of new bolts and screws, now have all new star posts and shiny hardware fitted along with a new rubber kit.